Debate Worksheet: Motions and Sides

Debate lesson 9: The motion, proposition and opposition · Set 266 · 40 questions

Debater's tip (Two sides, one motion): Motion: the statement being debated, often starting “This House believes…” or “This House would…”. Proposition: for the motion, speaks first, defines the key words, ends “I beg to propose”. Opposition: against it, answers the proposition, ends “I beg to oppose”. Good debate topics for students have two real sides; a plain fact is not debatable.

1. 1.True or false: “This House believes board games beat screen games.” is a debatable motion. (a) True (b) False
2. 2.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) speaks first (c) must prove the motion (d) must disprove the motion
3. 3.⚖️ Which side must prove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
4. 4.True or false: “This House would replace exams with projects.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.⚖️ Which side defines the key words? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
6. 6.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to oppose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
7. 7.⚖️ Which side is for the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) speaks first (b) says “I beg to propose” (c) defines the key words (d) may test the definition
9. 9.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a year has twelve months.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
10. 10.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes ice is frozen water.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
11. 11.True or false: “This House believes spiders have eight legs.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
13. 13.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) is for the motion (b) speaks first (c) defines the key words (d) says “I beg to oppose”
14. 14.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) says “I beg to oppose” (b) may test the definition (c) must disprove the motion (d) says “I beg to propose”
15. 15.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) is for the motion (c) may test the definition (d) defines the key words
16. 16.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) defines the key words (b) is for the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) speaks first
17. 17.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) says “I beg to propose” (b) must disprove the motion (c) answers the proposition (d) says “I beg to oppose”
18. 18.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes the Sun rises in the east.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
19. 19.⚖️ Which side says “I beg to propose”? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
20. 20.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) may test the definition (b) must prove the motion (c) must disprove the motion (d) answers the proposition
21. 21.True or false: “This House believes the Earth goes round the Sun.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) True (b) False
22. 22.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) is against the motion (b) may test the definition (c) is for the motion (d) must disprove the motion
23. 23.📜 The team that argues for the motion is called… (a) the audience (b) the judges (c) the opposition (d) the proposition
24. 24.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes every school needs a garden.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
25. 25.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make homework optional.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
26. 26.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) answers the proposition (b) speaks first (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) is for the motion
27. 27.⚖️ Which side must disprove the motion? (a) the proposition (b) the opposition
28. 28.📜 Which words often begin a debate motion? (a) “Breaking news…” (b) “Dear diary…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This House…”
29. 29.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) is against the motion (b) is for the motion (c) defines the key words (d) speaks first
30. 30.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) must prove the motion (b) answers the proposition (c) is against the motion (d) may test the definition
31. 31.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would replace exams with projects.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
32. 32.Which of these is true of the proposition? (a) may test the definition (b) answers the proposition (c) defines the key words (d) is against the motion
33. 33.📜 A good motion must have… (a) one right answer (b) no clear meaning (c) a hidden answer (d) two sides to argue
34. 34.True or false: “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” is not debatable — it is a plain fact. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.⚖️ Which side answers the proposition? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
36. 36.Which of these is true of the opposition? (a) speaks first (b) defines the key words (c) says “I beg to propose” (d) says “I beg to oppose”
37. 37.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes summer holidays are too long.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable
38. 38.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House believes a week has seven days.” (a) not debatable (b) debatable
39. 39.⚖️ Which side speaks first? (a) the opposition (b) the proposition
40. 40.📜 Is this a debatable motion? “This House would make cooking a school subject.” (a) debatable (b) not debatable

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